Thursday 21 April 2016

Saffron Walden 0 – Kirkley and Pakefield 2


Saffron Walden 0 – Kirkley and Pakefield 2

19th April 2016 – The Meadow

We all knew this was going to be a very tough match. K&P are currently sitting in 5th place, and have only lost 8 games all season. As always the Bloods worked very hard and did not show any sign of giving up. They continued to attack the K&P goal until the very end, but the defence was like a brick wall. With most of the players over 6 feet tall, it was going to be a physical match.

TEAM: Lee Pacey, Spike Bell, Paul Abbot (Pabbo) (Dan Grindrod (Viking) – 79 mins.), Matt Snelling (Mashy), Stuart Wardley (Sticko), Perry Moody (Fagin), Craig Calver (Wig), Jake Noble (Nobby) (Max Drane (Baby Face) 74 mins.), Graeme Turner (G Man), James Thomas (Zinedine), Louis Harper (Joe Murphy (Boss) – 74 mins.). Substitutes (not used): Charlie Dicker (Chaz), Neil Andrews.

The First Half

In the opening few minutes both teams passed the ball around well, looking for a chance to put an attack together. Mashy was getting fed up with K&P enjoying too much of the possession so he charged at the K&P defence to try and close them down. Mashy forced them to make a mistake and took the ball off them. Mash tried to feed a long ball over to G Man, but the defence did their job, and scooped the ball away.

5 minutes into the match, and just as the Bloods were getting stuck in Grint took advantage, when Wig’s controlled ball from Pacey bounced away from him. Grint sailed a long ball into the box for Stone to head the ball over the impeded Fagin, and into the path of Baker. Baker controlled the ball well and slotted it passed Pacey and into the back of the net

12 minutes into the match, we won a corner for Harper to take. The ball went over everyone and Wig had to chase it down. Wig tried to get the ball back into the box but his cross was closed down and ended up as a foul.

16 minutes into the match, and K&P won a free kick, after Nobby clashed with Loper while chasing down a loose ball. The ball was sailed into the box, but Fagin stood strong and kept the attacker at bay, and the ball was easily caught by Pacey.

G Man won the Bloods a corner, after he ran onto a lovely flicked pass from Mashy. G Man struck the ball but it was blocked by Grint. Harper took the corner which fell to Wig. Wig tried to set Nobby for a shot, but it was blocked by Herbert.

20 minutes into the match and Bell played a brilliant long ball, over the top of the defence for Zinedine to run onto. The defender just got a foot on the ball for another corner ball.

The Bloods continued to test the stubborn defence, with corner after corner, but the Bloods just couldn’t find a way through. We won a throw in and spike took it quickly and threw it to Wig. Wig crossed a lovely ball for Zinedine to head, but his brilliant effort was cancelled out by an even better finger tipped save by the vocal and commanding Tibbles.

27 minutes into the match and Mashy was just inches away from scoring, but his effort rattled the post instead. Mashy did really well to win the ball as the ball was launched up in the air. He controlled the ball and smashed it. It was one of those efforts that felt like it was in slow motion. Unlucky Mashy, as that was class.

29 minutes into the match and Pacey need the support of his defence, as Bell blocked a shot off the line. Had he not have been there it would have certainly gone in. Great defensive work from Bell!

31 minutes into the match and the K&P coach received a ‘wind your neck in’ shout, from an unnamed fan (LOL), after he was heard shouting at the top of his voice.

Wig was given a yellow card after he pushed the defender over whilst trying to attack a long ball.

Five minutes before half time, a harmless looking free kick near the right wing was floated in to the tallest man on the pitch, Herbert (Captain Jack), who directed a glancing header just inside the left hand post to make it 2-0 to K&P. The fans were gutted, but carried on cheering on the lads.

HT: Saffron Walden 0 – Kirkley and Pakefield 2

The Second Half

Early into the second half, Pacey made an excellent point blank save to deny P&K a third goal, which certainly kept us in it.

The Bloods first effort of the half came from a set piece. Harper launched the ball into the back post, and found Sticko ‘ghosting’ into the 6 yard box. Sticko didn’t catch his header right and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Kirkley started to build momentum and were looking for that third goal, which would have killed the game off. But this time it was our defence, who was being stubborn and worked hard to close them down.

G Man was denied a goal, from a brilliant save by Tibbles. The build-up play from Wig and Harper was excellent. We thought that Harper was going to shoot from distance, but he lightly lobbed the ball over the defence for G Man to battle with the defender. G got the better of the defender but his final shot was brilliantly saved.

65 minutes into the match, and Pacey was called to action again as he made a decision to run out and save the ball at the feet of the attacker. A brave choice as it had to be timed perfectly. His decision paid off and collected the ball before the K&P hit man could get a shot in at goal.

Walden continued to push on, and we came close with a potential tap in after G Man headed on Bells long throw. Captain Jack got to the ball first and hooked it away from the prowling pack of Bloods.

Zinedine was showing off his footwork, and produced a lovely step over which dazzled Grint and put him on his backside. As he went to cross, he was tripped and awarded a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Harper delivered the ball into the 6 yard box, but no one was at the back post to tab the ball in.

74 minutes into the match and, Nobby and Harper were replaced by Joe ‘The Boss’ Murphy and Max ‘Baby Face’ Drane. Well done Nobby and Harper and thanks for working very hard for the team. Welcome back Joe from holiday.

79 minutes into the match, and Sticko made a great challenge on Baker as he was charging at goal.

80 minutes into the match, and Paul Abbott was replaced by Dan ‘The Viking’ Grindrod. It was good to see the Viking back in the team after work commitments and illness ruled him out for a while. Well done again Paul. Keep working hard.

85 minutes into the matches, and Wig delivered a dangerous cross into the goalmouth but it just couldn’t be forced over the line, and eventually the Tibbles pounced on the ball.

The final chance for the Bloods came in the 88th minute, but the Bosses header from about 8 yards out was glanced just wide of the left hand post.

The lads did not give up even in the dying minutes of the match, when they knew that the final minute was moments away. That’s what I love about this team. Heads do not drop and we fight on no matter what.

FT: Saffron Walden 0 – Kirkley and Pakefield 2

The MOTM goes to Mashy Snelling after an excellent performance throughout the 90 minutes. This was a unanimous decision from the ‘behind the goal’ fans. Well done Mashy.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Joe ‘The Boss’ Murphy and his wife Holly who announced last week that they are expecting a baby. So there will be a ‘Mini Boss’ joining the extending Bloods family.  

Next up we have Thetford at home on the 23rd April. This is the first team’s last game of the season, so we hope to have a huge crowd. Up to 3 kids go free with one paying. We home the lads can say goodbye to the homes crowd for this season with a win.

Thanks for reading




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